The Annunciation to the Blessed Virgin MaryFeast: March 25th

The Annunciation is a celebration of the announcement made by the archangel,Gabriel, to the Virgin Mary that she would become the mother of Jesus Christ,Son of God. Despite being a virgin, Mary - through the power of the Holy Spirit- miraculously conceived a child who would be called the Son of God. Gabriel told Mary to name her son Jesus, meaning "YHWH delivers." According to the Bible, the Annunciation occurred in "the sixth month" of Elizabeth's pregnancy with the child who would later become known as John the Baptist.

We celebrate this joyful mystery because of the Blessed Mother's most humble and glorious "Fiat." She chose to accept the Will of the Father, fully understanding His Plans and accepting His Divine Will. Keep in mind that she was unmarried! Even at the expense of her own life (she would have been stoned upon being found pregnant before marriage), she allowed the Lord to take her perfect, sinless body and and create a living Monstrance holding the Incarnation of Our Lord. In fact, it was in her Holy Body that she bore him forth to Saint Elizabeth during the Visitation, acting as the first Eucharistic Procession. Let us always look to Our Blessed Mother in awe and celebration for her triumphant and selfless "Fiat."

"BEHOLD, I AM THE HANDMAID OF THE LORD: BE IT DONE UNTO ME ACCORDING TO THY WORD."